Valve mechanism for registers and the like



April 1948. K. L. BABCOCK EQTAYL 2,439,444

VALVE MECHANISM FOR REGISTERS AND THE LIKE Filed May 19, 1945 INVENTORS. ffe/meffi Z. Bafimc/r y Robe/"f Lie/k ATTORNEYS- Patented Apr. 13, 1948 VALVE MECHANISM FOR REGISTERS AND THE LIKE Kenneth L. Babcock, Muskegon, and RobertL. Leigh, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignors to Air. Control Products, Inc.,

corporation of Michigan Coopersville, Mich., a

Application May 19, 1945, Serial No. 594,780

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in valve mechanism for registers and the like. I

'The main objectsof this invention are:

First, to provide a valve mechanism for hot air registers and the like which operate by turning of a knob or a rotary movement as distinguished from a swinging or reciprocating movement and one in which the valve members are effectively retained in any position of adjustment throughout their range.

Second, to provide a mechanism having these' advantages in which the parts are free from play or lost motion anddo not rattle orvibrate under forced air currents.

Third, to provide a structure in which, when the valve is closed, the thrust of the air tends to maintain it in closed position with a result that the valve is not gradually opened as results in some register valve mechanisms.

Fourth, to provide a valve mechanism for registers which acts to distribute the air throughout the face of the register.

Fifth, to provide a valve mechanism of this character which is economical to manufacture and durable in use.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: i

Fig. l is a front elevation of a register embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is anenlarged fragmentary view mainly in vertical section on line 2 -2 of Fig. 1, the valve members being shown in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section corresponding to that of Fig. 2-with the valve members in partially open'position.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view-mainly in section on the broken line 4-4 ofFig. 2. 1

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view mainly in section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2. l n

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary-view partially in section on line 6-5 of Fig.2. 1 3 r 1 The embodiment of ourinvention illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprises a register grille I including the border .frame 2, grid members 3, and the grill is provided with a vertical bar-like portion 4. The grille or register face is secured to or provided withaninwardly project- 'ing frame comprising side members 5 an-d top member 6 adapted to fit within the register box or tack-head l which is in the wall The frame is commonly provided with a bottom member but that is not illustrated.

The valve assembly comprises a plurality of louver-like valve members 9 formed of sheet metal stampings and of rearwardly curved section. The upper edges of the valve members are rolled to provide beads In which are extended at their ends to provide pintles I l pivotally engaging holes l2 provided therefor in the side members 5 of the frame. The pintles for the several valve members are in vertical alignment, the width of the valve members being suchthat they overlap the adjacent lower valve member, as isshown in Fig. 2, when the valve members are in closed position.

The lower edges of the valve members are provided with flange-like portions [3 which lie against the rear side of the valve members. The rearward curving of the valve members provides clearance for the bead or pintle portions thereof.

Each valve member is provided with a pivot ear M adjacent itsplower edge, the several members being connected by the link or bar l5 pivoted to the ear at [6. The link has cut-away portions at I! which provide clearance for the valve members when the parts are swung to closed position.

A segmental rack I 8 preferably formed of a stamping and of concavo-convex form is secured to one of the valve members, the rack being provided with a flange I9 to facilitate such connection. The axis of the rack coincides with the axis of the valve member to which it is secured.

The gear 20 is preferably formed. as a sheet metal stamping and has angularly disposed teeth which engage the elongated radial holes 2| in the rack member, the parts 22 of the rack between the holes constituting rack teeth. The gear is provided with a spindle 23 which is supported by the support member 24 secured to the inner side of the plate portion of the grille and ofi'set at 25, this ofiset portion and the plate portion of the grille having aligned holes 26 and 21 respectively providing an effective support for the spindle. The spindle is provided with a finger piece 28 at its outer end. It will be noted by reference to Figs. 2 and 3 that the axis extended of spindle 23 substantially intersects the pivotal axis of the valve member 9 to which the segmental rack I 8 is fixedly secured. This facilitates such meshing engagement between the rack l8 and the gear 20 that both the rack and the gear may be readily stamped from sheet metal.

A spring 25 arranged between the support and the gear 20 urges the gear inwardly so that its teeth engage the inner ends of the holes 2 I. This prising the stop member 30 mounted on the grille and the coacting arm-like stop 3| mounted on one of the valve members. The stop member 30 is adjustably supported by means of the screw 32 arranged through the registering slots 33 and 34 in the bar 4 of the grille and the support member 24. A lug 35 projects into the slots to prevent sideWise motion of the stop 30. By adjusting the stop 30 the fully open position can be regulated.

Structures embodying our invention are pleasing in appearance, very easy to operate and very substantial leverage can be easily applied to fully close the valve members, and, as stated, the air is well distributed to the grille.

We have illustrated and described our invention in a practical commercial embodiment thereof. We have not attempted to illustrate other modifications or adaptations which might be desirable for particular installations or structural adaptations, as We believe this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to modify or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a supporting frame comprising a top member and side members, the top member having a downturned flange of forwardly curved section spaced forwardly relative to the rear edges of the side members, of a grille provided with a vertically disposed bar portion, a support member secured to the rear side of said bar portion of said grille, said support and bar portion having registering vertical slots, a plurality of louver-like valve members of rearwardly curved section having their upper edges rolled to provide beads and extended at their ends to constitute pintles engaging said frame side members, the lower edges of said valve members having angularly disposed flanges overlapping and engaging the rear sides of adjacent valve members below the pivot axes thereof when the valve members are closed, the bead of the upper valve member engaging the said flange on said top frame member, pivot ears disposed on the rear sides of said valve membersadjacent their lower edges, a connecting link for said valve members pivotally connected to said ears, a segmental rack secured to one of said valve members concentric with its axis, said rack being of concave-convex section and having a series of holes in the curved portion thereof, a coacting gear having angularly disposed teeth engaging said holes in said rack, a spindle .for said gear mounted on said grille and support and provided with a finger piece at its outer end, a spring arranged between said support and said gear and acting to yieldingly urge the teeth of said gear into engagement with the inner ends" of said holes in said rack, an adjustable stop provided with a lug projecting into said slots in said support and bar, a screw arranged through said slots and having threaded engagement with said stop for adjustably supporting the same, and

4 an arm on one of said valve members coacting with said stop on said grille.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a supporting frame, of a grille provided with vertically disposed bar portions, a support member secured to the rear side of said bar portion of said grille, said support and bar portion of said grille having registering vertical slots, a plurality of louver-like valve members of rearwardl-y curved section pivotally mounted on said frame, the lower edges of said valve members overlapping and engaging the rear sides of adjacent valve members below the pivot axes thereof when the valve members are closed, pivot earsdisposed on the rear sides of said valve members adjacent their lower edges, a connecting link for said valve members pivotally connected to said ears, a segmental rack secured to one of said valve members concentric with its axis, said rack being of concave-convex section and having a series of holes in the curved portion thereof, a coacting gear having angularly disposed teeth engaging said holes in said rack, a spindle for said gear mounted on said grille and support and provided with a finger piece at its outer end, a spring arranged between said support and said gear and acting to yieIdingly-urge the teeth of said gear into engagement with the inner ends of said holes in said rack, an adjustable stop provided with a lug projecting into said slots in said support and grille'bar, a screw arranged through said slots and having threaded engagement with said stop for adjustably supporting the same, and an arm on one of said valve members coacting with said stop on said grille.

3. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a supporting frame comprising a top member and side members, the top member having a downturned flange of forwardly curved section spaced forwardly relative to the rear edges of the side members, of a grille, a support member secured to the rear side of said grille, a plurality of louver-like valve members of rear-- wardly curved section having their upper edges rolled to provide beads and extended at their ends to constitute pintles engaging said frame side members, the lower edges of said valve members having angularly disposed flanges overlapping and engaging the rear sides of adjacent valve members below the pivot axes thereof when the valve members are closed, the bead of the upper valve member engaging the said flange on said top frame member, pivot ears disposed on the rear sides of said valve members adjacent their lower edges, a connecting link for said valve members pivotally connected to said ears, a segmental rack secured to one of said valve members concentric with its axis, said rack being of concavo-convex section and having a series of holes in the curved portion thereof, a coacting gear having angularly disposed teeth engaging said holes in said rack, a spindle for said gear mounted'on said grille and support and provided with a finger piece at its outerend, and a spring arranged between said support and said gear and acting to yieldingly urge the teeth of said gear into engagement with the inner ends of said holes of said rack.

4. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a supporting frame, of a rille, a support member secured to the rear side of said grille, a plurality of louver-like valve members of rearwardly curved section pivotally mounted on said frame, the lower edges of said valve mem bers overlapping and engaging the rear sides of adjacent valve members below the pivot axes thereof when the valve members are closed, pivot ears disposed on the rear sides of said valve members adjacent their lower edges, a connecting link for said valve members pivotally connected to said ears, a segmental rack secured to one of said valve members concentric with its axis, said rack being of concavo-convex section and having a series of holes in the curved portion thereof, a coacting gear having angularly disposed teeth engaging said holes in said rack, a spindle for said gear mounted on said grille and support and provided with afinger piece at its outer end, and a spring arranged between said support and said gear and acting to yieldingly urge the teeth of said gear into engagement with the inner ends of said holes of said rack.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a supporting frame and grille, of a plurality of louver-like valve members of rearwardly curved section pivotally mounted on said frame at their upper edges, the lower edges of said valve members having angularly disposed flanges overlapping and engaging the rear sides of adjacent valve members below the pivot axes thereof when the valve members are closed, operating connections for said valve members, a segmental rack secured to one of said valve members concentric with its axis, said rack being of concavo-convex section and having a series of holes in the curved portion thereof, a coacting gear having teeth engaging said holes in said rack, a spindle for said gear mounted on said grille provided with a finger piece at its outer end, and a spring acting to yieldingly urge the teeth of said gear into engagement with the inner ends of said holes of said rack.

6. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a supporting frame and grille, of a plurality of louver-like valve members, operating connections for said valve members, a segmental rack secured to one of said valve members concentric With its axis, said rack being of concavo-convex section and having a series of holes in the curved portion thereof, a coacting gear having teeth engaging said holes in said rack,

a spindle for said gear mounted on said grille 6 provided with a finger piece at its outer end, and a spring acting to yieldingly urge the teeth of said gear into engagement with the inner ends of said holes of said rack.

7. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a supporting frame and grille, of a louver-like valve member, a segmental rack secured to said valve member concentric with its axis, said rack being of concavo-convex section and having a series of holes in the curved portion thereof, a coactin-g gear having teeth engaging said holes in said rack, a spindle for said gear projecting through said grille provided with a finger piece at its outer end, and a spring acting to yieldingly urge the teeth of said gear into engagement with said rack. i

KENNETH L. BABCOCK. ROBERT L. LEIGH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 82,980 Paddock Oct. 13, 1868 135,246 Rodden Jan. 28, 1873 1,070,312 Wilson Aug. 12, 1913 1,163,383 Truax Dec. 7, 1915 1,359,556 Wine Nov. 23, 1920 1,804,165 Holub May 5, 1931 1,817,836 Petrelli Aug. 4, 1931 1,876,850 Burgess Sept. 13, 1932 1,891,485 Tracy Dec. 20, 1932 1,971,841 Young Aug. 28, 1934 1,989,010 Howard Jan. 22, 1935 2,161,471 Hueglin June 6, 1939 2,209,384 Brown July 30, 1940 2,299,832 Mader Oct. 27, 1942 2,311,950 Mader Feb. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date r 58,686 Austria Apr. 25, 1913 454,363 France Apr. 26, 1913 709,120

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